Asteroid!

Hypothetical Question!
If you were an astronomer who discovered an asteroid a quarter the size of the moon, hurtling towards earth at 20,000 mph with absolutely no doubt of impact, would you tell the world or would you just shut up about it?

Re: Asteroid!

I would just duck and hope it missed me

Re: Asteroid!

I think I would tell the World about it so that the people could have a last few days of fun before copping it. Of course, the asteroid would be named after me for discovering it but I doubt anyone would be left to appreciate it.

Re: Asteroid!

Nasa predicts the Earth is safe from the menacing Apophis asteroid for 100 years.
https://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireSto...years-76707752

Re: Asteroid!

If it was going to be a total extinction event with no possible of evading it then I would make it as widely known as I could and then sit back and watch the panic! Might as well get a giggle about it eh?

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What an awful death; asteroids can be very painful.

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I wouldn't say a word, there would be little anyone could do about it so better to let people remain in blissful ignorance...

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Surely you know somebody who deserves to be told.

An anti social neighbour; the man who beat you to the last parking space at the supermarket; there must be someone.

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That's an easy one. Here comes the nerd...

Astronomy probably has more transparency and cooperation than any other science field out there.

If I knew, you can bet that someone in the field would too - in very short order. No reason to keep a secret that can't be kept. Besides, I would be putting everyone to work.

We have likely already likely had such an event - the giant-impact theory that formed the moon was the result of Theia (asteroid or proto-planet) strikin the the earth causing the ejecta to form our little satellite. There was no life around then, but it did form and flourish 1.4 billion years after the strike. We have us and a moon to show for it!

Though we (especially nerds) would be doomed, I'd work with everyone willing on the planet to save extremophiles, chemophiles, viruses, bacteria, prions, virons, and any other life that could live and evolve without light and moderate temperatures on the opposite side of the calculated impact location.

I'd be spreading the word so the last human achievement would be saving the little Adams and Eves of a planet soon to be wiped clean in hopes they would get things going again.

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Calculate the impact area then go to a place in the world diametrically opposite. It would be a planet killer but at least I wouldn't get squashed and killed.